Dearest
Kitten:
I love you
with all my heart and soul. How
Monday 25
June 1045
That was a
fairly good start! It’s 7:10 a.m. right now so if things go per usual, I many
reach the bottom of this page before evening.
We are now in
Manila camped on Dewey Boulevard just a short way from the center of town,
which I have not seen as yet.
Our camp used
to be a residential section. Our tents are sitting on the cemented ground
floors of a group of completely burned down homes. The buildings, that is the
few that are standing, are all gutted. The only thing that is standing is
cement buildings or rather their walls are standing. It is umpossible to
describe in mere words the complete destruction of this once beautiful city.
The harbor is
littered with sunken jap vessels. Some with their super structure sticking out
of the water and some completely submerged.
During the
day it gets quite warm but it cools off enough in the evening so that you can
put on a shirt without too much discomfort. Due to the heat I have lost quite a
bit of weight from sweating. All our water is chlorinated and is quite
palatable when cooled below boiling point.
We are
thankful that it is the dry season. It only rains all night every night. During
the wet season it rains all day and all night. So you can see how fortunate we
are.
It is not too
muddy. The ground is usually dry from supper time until it starts to rain right
after supper. Around our tent area we have a submerged net to catch any
equipment that starts floating off.
Our camp is
guarded by Filipino guerrillas. After dark they start challenging everyone. I
like the way they do it. They cock the rifle first and then holler halt. The
hollering is superfluous as at the sound of the rifle being cocked is enough to
freeze you in your tracks. It is only recently that they have been using this
method. Before they used to shoot first then go out and inspect the body. If it
was an American they would call the medics to patch him up, if a jap they just
rolled him into the gutter.
Our latrine
is a very private affair. There is only one thing wrong. There is no sides,
roof or anything. At first we were rather startled at having a passing woman
come over and sit down next to you. The first time it is kind of embarrassing
but you get used to it.
Everything is
measured in pesos, approximately fifty cents, anything smaller is frowned on as
too small to be bothered with.
Tuesday 26
June 1945
Good morning
Sweetheart. Here it is the start of another day and I have hopes that I may get
this letter off sometime today. Last night I got six whole hours of sleep and I
feel fairly good. Since our arrival here I have been busier than a one armed
paper hanger with the crabs.
You can not imagine
the job it has been to get packed, moved and unloaded. We were two months
getting everything packed ready to move and that is the main reason that I have
not been able to write as often as I would have liked to. I could not tell you
before that we were preparing to move. I wanted to so that you would not worry
too much because of my not being able to write to you.
I love you
Sweetheart. Always remember that. Every part of me aches from longing for you.
Let us hope and pray that it may not be too long now before I will be home
again for good.
If at anytime
I seem to be neglecting you, it will be for a very good reason.
Well
Beautiful, I have a meeting to attend so I must close. You have all my love.
Give my regards
to everyone and kiss the babies for me. I love you Sweetheart.
Your Loving
Devoted & Faithful Husband,
Bob
P.S.
Disregard the return address. I had to borrow an envelope that was already
stamped. Enclosed is a jap 1000 peso note.
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